Brook Lopez

For all the handiwork that Hassan Whiteside has achieved on the defensive end for the Miami Heat these past few years, the counter this season has been the footwork of rookie recent Bam Adebayo.

With Whiteside out the past week due to hip pain, the contrasts in defensive-minded big men has been evident.

"Hassan is one of the most unique players in the league because of his size, his wingspan, his blocked-shot instincts," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Really, you don't see players like that nightly. That's why I like the differences in what we have.

"Hassan protects the rim, the paint. Bam loves to put a little bit more pressure on the defense, trap a...

Related "Brook Lopez" Articles

For all the handiwork that Hassan Whiteside has achieved on the defensive end for the Miami Heat these past few years, the counter this season has been the footwork of rookie recent Bam Adebayo.
With Whiteside out the past week due to hip pain, the...

Hassan Whiteside said Friday he is back to dragging an old friend alongside on the court, much to his consternation.
Among the stipulations by the Miami Heat upon the center's late-December return from a 13-game absence with a bone bruise on his left...

The Miami Heat needed a favor; the Brooklyn Nets decided their season was over one game before the finish line. And, with that, the Heat's chance to make last season's playoffs effectively vanished even before Game No. 82.
Thursday night, in a...

Q: The Lakers wanted a lottery pick for D'Angelo Russell. Why wouldn't the Heat take Russell? He's better than anything we would get at No. 14. I mean this is the former second pick of the draft. He's 21, can shoot and score. He's better than Dion...

The contrasts were stark on closing night, the team that refused to cave and the team that capitulated.
It was an episode that left the Miami Heat numb, their climb from 11-30 at midseason ending at 41-41 but without playoffs. And one that left the...

If the writing is not on the wall for the Miami Heat, it certainly could be on the lineup cards for Wednesday's closing night of the NBA season.
With the Heat needing not only a victory Wednesday night against the visiting Washington Wizards at...

Observations from Friday night's 108-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center:
-- Make that 13 consecutive victories for the Heat.
-- Yes, the longest winning streak in the NBA this season.
-- And 12 consecutive losses for the Nets. --...

A look at the starting lineups and inactives, as well as referees and a pregame note of note for Friday's 7:30 p.m. game between the Heat and Nets at Barclays Center (TV: Fox Sports Sun. Radio: 790-AM, 106.3-FM, 710-AM.)
Tentative Starting lineups
MIAMI...

And, still, eight can't be enough.
Not with so much ground still to cover in this fascinating climb from the bottom of the Eastern Conference by the Miami Heat.
But eight it is, an eighth consecutive victory achieved with Monday night's 104-96...

This can't be the way Dwyane Wade goes out, in a battle of wills with Rajon Rondo, on a team where he has been unable to stake a definitive claim as a leader, on a roster whose upside is a first-round sweep at the hands of LeBron James and the Cleveland...

Observations from Tuesday night's 121-100 preseason victory over the Brooklyn Nets at AmericanAirlines Arena:
-- An encouraging night on many levels.
-- Particularly seeing Goran Dragic so effective and so comfortable.
-- A far different look than a...

Observations from Monday night's Heat public scrimmage at AmericanAirlines Arena:
-- One of the best moments of the preseason again was the entire roster embracing breast-cancer survivors at center court during halftime of the annual breast-cancer...

The snub-a-thon continued Thursday for Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside.
A day after being relegated to second team when the NBA announced its annual All- Defensive teams, Whiteside on Thursday failed to make any of the three All-NBA teams.
Whiteside,...

The NBA equation of everything-to-lose vs. nothing-to-lose rarely is simple as the script.
So for the second consecutive game, the Miami Heat had to push harder than expected, this time before emerging with Monday night's 110-99 victory over the Brooklyn...

Q: What would be a good trip for the Heat? -- Hal.
A: Um, landing safely four times? As far as the schedule, I would think you would have to win at least two of the three if you want to keep pace with the rest of the middle of the pack in the Eastern...

Observations from Monday night's 110-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at AmericanAirlines Arena:
-- Mid-range Dwyane Wade was spot on in this one.
-- Which was needed, with Brook Lopez having his way in the middle for the Nets.
-- The Heat's play at...

When/Where: 7:30 p.m., AmericanAirlines Arena.
Tickets: Available at HEAT.com or 1-800-4NBA-TIX.
TV: Fox Sports Sun. Radio: 790-AM, 106.3-FM, 710-AM (Spanish).
Scouting report: This is the fourth and final game of the four-game season...

Q: This experiment with Hassan Whiteside coming off the bench has to stop. -- Victor.
Q: Why is Erik Spoelstra obliged to play Amar'e Stoudemire? -- Chuck.
A: First, it's working. At least when it comes to the win column. But I do see where you would...

This was not about making a statement, not when you're playing an opponent that still has not won consecutive games since early December.
No, this 102-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Tuesday night was about confirming the...